TGFKASE

Arrived home and found out the OH has managed to almost kill the PC. Boots up fine, but after 4-5 mins or so, screen goes all 'magic picture' on me and starts beeping... then dies..

Anyone recommend someone/somewhere where I dont have to try and speak pidgin to get my problem over???

seraphnina

EW helped a poster who tried to fix her washing machine to her husband coming home and saying "Buy a new one"

deemi786

ok elaborate a little...when you say "screen goes all magic picture and starts beeping what do you mean?"

Does it boot into the operating system or whilst booting up does the blue screen of death appear?

If so looks like a driver issue or something similar.

What version of operating system have you got, vista? XP?

Blue Cat

I was just going to suggest you might be able to help

deemi786

awwww...im touched.

Roadking

Yeah, we heard. Just keep taking the pills to control the mood swings and depression and ye'll be awright.

MacScot

Start upwith a boot disc (or original software CD) in "safe mode"...

If you are intending to put the computer in for repairs...think back and consider whether you have any porn pics on it before handing it over !

Madam Medusa

i've used these guys to sort mine out, they come to the house...i care computer solutions, tel: 04 3454655...

MM, xx

Tiger989

Usually when a sound comes out from the PC its either the RAM or the motherboard. If its the motherboard its time to buy a new pc. Unless yours is in top spec you can replace the motherboard for about 1000dh + or -

deemi786

dont scare the poor guy, it could be nothing...

but i do agree it's most probaby going to be last known good or restore that fixes the issue.

Did you install something recently, like a webcam or perhaps install more RAM?

shakh your bootie

If it boots up into the OS and only throws a wobbler after 5 mins or so the chances are it isn't a fundamental hardware issue - unless part of the cooling system has failed and the 5 min delay is a heat-soak time.

It's more likely a software stability issue - I'd go with MacScot's suggestion and use the emergency recovery disk to return to a stable configuration. Even better, back up all the user files, format the hard disk and re-install the lot. I do that as a matter of course every 6 months or so....

Ain't it great exchanging computer talk??? real, err, manly like. Let's crack open some beers and grill animal flesh on a BBQ....

deemi786

ok so i wouldnt recommend a novice to ever, ever format their hard disk, not that its hard to do but generally they always seem to screw it up!

You just know he's going to come back and say he's running w98 and the keybaord isnt plugged in or something...

I do agree, grab a copy of XP (if it is XP) and choose r, go for a repair.

TGFKASE

Ahhh, someone who sounds like they know what they are talking about...

Boots into OS (Vista). Have tried all 3 safe modes and normal but, after approx 4-5 mins, up until which its been doing fine...Magic pic and beep...

TGFKASE

[QUOTE=deemi786;7564684]dont scare the poor guy, it could be nothing...

but i do agree it's most probaby going to be last known good or restore that fixes the issue. - Actually attempted to start system restore, but it went screwy before it could reboot...
Did you install something recently, like a webcam or perhaps install more RAM? - Webcam has been installed for months, the last thing (over 6 weeks ago) was a media converter for AV files...[/QUOTE]

deemi, see above...

deemi786

k, you got the Windows Vista DVD that came with your computer. Insert the Vista DVD into your DVD drive and turn your computer on. Your computer will start and you should see your BIOS listing your hardware and other information yadda yadda yadda, When that information is cleared, The computer or lappie will see that a bootable DVD is inserted and present a prompt saying something like "press any key to boot from DVD". After filling out a few things it will give you a repair option.